When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, its a good core workout. If youre sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More

In the past 30 years, light artists have reimagined an art form that has always had the ability to turn the night sky, or a simple window, into luminescence. Last fall, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts turned its southern glass wall into a parade of sound-sensing lights, Lightswarm, that changes with the movements of nearby people and things. Future Cities Lab, the San Francisco design company behind Lightswarm, has originated another notable light sculpture. Located by the YBCA's steps at 701 Mission, Murmur Wall will light up in arresting ways as it incorporates local trending search engine results and social media postings. Onlookers can offer their own contributions, which will feed into the Murmur Wall's data stream and light up the sculpture. What's trending in San Francisco? If you're walking by the YBCA, you can see firsthand — at least through light patterns that reflect the city's volatile internet habits.
Murmur Wall debuts Thursday at 6 p.m. and continues through May 31, 2017, at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St., S.F. Free; 415-978-2700 or ybca.org. More

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When the San Francisco Arts Commission wanted someone to dress up City Hall for the building's 100th anniversary last year, and become the structure's first artist-in-residence, it took a leap of faith by choosing Jeremy Fish.

Nothing caps off a nice day at the beach like a mouthful of sand — especially if the grit in your teeth is the reward for the grit required to splay flat-out on your stomach, for the prize of a plastic disc in your hand, and all the glory that comes along with it.

SFWeekly Letters

Just Like Mom Used to MakeArtisanal foods cost more, which may mean eating less: Artisan food is fine-tuning the taste satisfaction of a familiar food, by picking in season after meticulous cultivation, and then producing only the very best for consumption ["The Artisanal Irony," Hanna Raskin, feature, 6/27]. Yes, it is expensive, which may be an excellent cure for America's gluttonous eating habits.

Gardener

Web Comment

What about a factory farm?: The issue is that "artisan" is a meaningless term. An artisan is someone who makes things. Unless something came from a fully automated system (factory, 3-D printer), it was made by someone. Therefore, every product is technically artisan(al).

Scott Finkelstein

Web Comment

Artisan is just another meaningless label: "Artisanal" is the new "farm fresh," "homemade," "gourmet." That is, it's another meaningless label the marketing folks plaster on everything to make them stand out from the other products.

Chingy

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Going GreenSustainable on the outside, broken on the inside: Good article and sadly so true, San Francisco wants to be green but it's very challenging ["A Green Façade," John Upton, Sucka Free City, 6/20]. If San Francisco-owned buildings had clean fresh air intake vents, this would make the buildings healthier for their occupants and allow all systems to work more efficiently.

Kermit

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Blog Comments of the WeekUrine is the natural smell of public transportation: Honestly? This is a really unprofessional post ["Muni Logos We'd Like to See (PIX!)," Joe Eskenazi, the Snitch, 6/25]. Does the writer know of any city where the public transportation system doesn't break down? Doesn't move slowly? Doesn't smell like urine? Let's also not forget how historic S.F.'s Muni system is.

K Evanstoni

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We don't want Chinese money: A very bad idea ["Chinese State Money Slotted for San Francisco Development Projects," Laura Rena Murray, the Snitch, 6/26]. This ludicrous plan is not good for Treasure Island or anywhere else on this planet. San Francisco has an obligation to its residents and should not pander to someone's wild schemes.

Ugh

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And we don't want the Chinese breed to win again: For some reason it doesn't seem fair that another Chinese Crested pup wins the coveted Ugly Dog Contest ["Mugly Is Crowned World's Ugliest Pooch," Erin Sherbert, the Snitch, 6/25]. Chinese Crested dogs are ringers, because they are bred to be unusual-looking. Next time a nice mongrel mix would be preferred.

Slideshows

Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"